Early History

Hammond Area Plan
Early History of Hammond
No. 1
June 2014
Prior to selement, the area we know today as Hammond was one of five Katzie communies located in various areas of
southwestern Brish Columbia. Selement in this area of Maple Ridge began in the 1860’s and was referred to as “Katzie” prior
to it being a registered township.
The first selement began in the year 1860 when the first Pre-empon act
was promulgated by Governor Douglas on January 4th, and provided for
the granng of rights to un-surveyed crown lands to an extent not
exceeding 160 acres, at a purchase price not exceeding two dollars and
fi'y cents per acre. In the same year, my father, John McIver, returned
from the service of the Hudson Bay Company, whom he had served for
eight years took up 160 acres, part of which is where we are today. The
beauful home and grounds of the present Hartnell home is located on
part of it.
John McIver (wrien in 1933, Published in The Gazee, 1958)
Above Photo: The original John McIver posed with his
wife and sister (1890) on a trip back to Scotland.
Maple Ridge Archives—P00615
Photo at Le6: Doan Hartnell, owner of Hammond Mill
built this house overlooking the Fraser River (1925).
Maple Ridge Archives—P00633
In his 1933 notes John McIver described the
area during early selement as “heavily
mbered down to the river’s edge”. The Fraser
River was the major travel route, transporng
people and goods. During parcularly cold
winters the river would freeze and prevent
travel unl it thawed.
Above Photo: Looking east along the Fraser River from Hammond (1924-1928).
Maple Ridge Archives—P00331
The Hammond brothers, William (aged 19) and John (aged 22) arrived in the area from Fenstanton England in 1862. Ten years
later, they pre-empted the land that they would eventually donate to the future town of Port Hammond. Most of the lower
poron of Hammond, shown southwest from the railway on the plan below, was donated by Emmeline Mohun. Edward Mohun,
Emmeline’s husband, dra6ed the town layout. Construcon of the Canadian Pacific Railway line, staon and yards began in 1882
and in August 1883 the township of Port Hammond Juncon was registered in the New Westminster Court House.
The Hammond brothers donated several acres of land to the CPR on the condion that the first railway staon in Maple Ridge
would be in Hammond. Labourers flocked to the area during railway construcon, which included Chinese immigrants, and
Hammond became a tent town overnight. In these early years, Port Hammond Juncon also served as a supply depot and
headquarters for railway construcon and the town connued to grow with businesses, such as hotels and bars, in response to
the influx of labourers and industry.
The year of 1885 was a big one with the opening of the Hammond Post Office
and compleon of the Hammond Staon. The first train pulled into Hammond
in November 1885 and for many years a6er, the CPR connued to employ
many of the labourers who helped construct the railway as secon hands.
The opening of the railway expanded the transportaon network year-round
and put Port Hammond Juncon on the map. The railway was extended
further west to Vancouver (known as Granville at the me) in 1887.
Above Plan Excerpt : First
registered lot holders in area
a6er pre-empon in 1860.
Above Plan: Copy of town Plan that was registered in 1883, showing the street grid paern.
Most of that paern sll exists today.
Maple Ridge Archives
Photo at Le6: Hammond Staon with hand car on the tracks (1899).
Maple Ridge Archives– P03849
References:
Maple Ridge Museum & Community Archives (2009). Community History. www.mapleridgemuseum.org.
McIver, John, “From John McIver’s Notes: First Selement Began in 1860 Records Show”. The Gazee.
Nickols, Sheila (editor), Violet Bokstrom, Isabelle MacDonald, Grace Mussallem, Daphne Sleigh, Margaret Smith.
Maple Ridge: A History of Selement. Maple Ridge: Canadian Federaon of University Women (Maple Ridge Branch), 1972.
Waite, Donald. Maple Ridge & Pi Meadows: A History in Photographs. Maple Ridge: Waite Bird Photos Inc., 2008.